Comparing Road Network Scaling Relations of Amalgamated and Non-Amalgamated Canadian Cities

Abstract

This study compares the size of the road networks in amalgamated and non-amalgamated cities. According to Bettencourt et al., cities road networks follow a power scaling relation. Rui Yikangs model for urban development suggests that polycentric cities road networks are expected to be less efficient than monocentric cities. By arguing that amalgamated cities develop as polycentric cities, while non-amalgamated cities do not, this study attempts to test, if there is any statistically significant difference between amalgamated and non-amalgamated cities road network scaling relations. The findings of this study show that amalgamated cities road networks are larger than their non-amalgamated counterparts, suggesting links between maintenance cost, and energy use for transportation.